§ 63. Mr. J. H. SIMPSONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the progress of the negotiations between the agricultural labourers who are on strike on a farm 2079 in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire and their employer; and whether the dispute between labourers and members of the National Farmers' Union in Norfolk has yet been settled?
§ Sir R. SANDERSWith regard to the dispute on certain farms in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, there is no change in the situation at the moment, but negotiations are proceeding. The dispute in Norfolk is still unsettled. As the hon. Member will have seen from the Press reports this morning, a meeting between the leaders was held on the l7th instant. Although no agreement was then reached, I understand that negotiations are still proceeding, and that a further meeting will be held this week.
§ Mr. SIMPSONHas arbitration been resorted to in the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire dispute?
§ Sir R. SANDERSNot that I am aware of.
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTON(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he could make any statement in regard to the crisis arising from the fall of agricultural wages and profits such as may prevent an extension of the strike already begun in Norfolk, and so avert a disaster to British agriculture?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir, I am sorry there is no statement that I can make which would have that effect.
§ Mr. BUXTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the increasing number of
| Quarters of 480 lbs. | |||||||
| Year. | Home Production. | Net Imports. | Ratio of Home Production to Net Imports. | ||||
| Per cent. | |||||||
| 1913 | … | … | … | … | 7,087,000 | 28,403,000 | 25.0 |
| 1917 | … | … | … | … | 8,040,000 | 25,819,000 | 31.1 |
| 1918 | … | … | … | … | 11,643,000 | 22,002,000 | 52.9 |
| 1919 | … | … | … | … | 8,665,000 | 22,373,000 | 38.7 |
| 1922 | … | … | … | … | 8,156,0001 | 26,743,000 | 30.5 |
| NOTE.—Statistics of the imports into Great Britain alone are not separately published. |